Annuities protest
Numerically a flop, but...
It might just work to get the government to take people's views more seriously. By Seah Chiang Nee.
Sept 10, 2007

The government has maintained a dignified silence on the wear-black 'annuities' protest on Sept 8 at Centrepoint, but it is likely to have weighed strongly on its mind. Therein lies in its achievement.

If there was any quanitfiable success, it lies not in the large crowd assembled, because there wasn't one, but that it has - knowing the serious nature of the ruling party - jolted the attention of the people who walk the corridors of power.

What was rational about the 'Black September' call to go shopping wearing black: -

* Firstly, it wasn't a gathering or a rally and broke no laws;

* Secondly, it wasn't anti-government or tied up to any party but had a limited, specific goal of showing opposition to a policy; and

* Thirdly, as a strategy to provide feedback it holds future promises but only if it is not deviated into a political cause and used sparingly and selectively.

I wasn't surprised by the relatively poor response because the 'target' protestors are the better-educated, Internet-savvy professionals and students, who are generally more concerned about careers rather than taking any firm public stand.

The organisers, commendable as their effort was, had a major problem. They could only publicise it online, which prevents them from spreading their message to the non-English speaking heartlanders.

For any public action to succeed, however, it has to have the participation of the broad Chinese or Malay speaking masses who live in the HDB estates.

That will mean, of course, protests not at Orchard Road - but in the midst of HDB estates.

The Western educated intellectuals (with the exception of a several hundred activists at best count) are too few to be a true force. Nothing succeeds without the participation of the broad masses - the heartlanders.

I'm sure Mr. Lee Kuan Yew knows this and will work hard to prevent it.

However, any effort to involve the heartlanders will be extremely difficult without the Internet since the majority does not surf. Outside the web will involve mass organisation that could invite an official crackdown.

As expected, the mainstream media has ignored the event, so what happened at Centrepoint?

Here are several moderately written accounts with reactions.

Theonlinecitizen (excerpts)

"Annuity protest draws small crowd"
A protest against the government’s move to introduce an annuities scheme was held at Centrepoint on Saturday afternoon.

Around 30 people were spotted wearing black throughout the five storey shopping mall, but it was unclear how many of them were there for the specific purpose of protesting the annuities scheme.

The most visible group of protesters was members of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) who were canvassing for the release of their Secretary-General Dr Chee Soon Juan earlier in the afternoon. The group of eight SDP supporters was led by Dr Chee’s sister Ms Chee Siok Chin.

The low turnout at the event was attributed by some to the amorphous nature of the protest’s organisation.

Word of the protest was originally spread through the internet and participants were asked to wear an item of black clothing and appear at the mall at 4.00 pm. It was unclear who organised the protest.

The protest was held in reaction to the government’s proposed move to introduce a compulsory annuities scheme component into the Central Provident Fund (CPF) savings scheme.

The CPF scheme is a compulsory savings scheme that is funded on contributions from employees and employers. Current rules allow Singaporeans to withdraw portions of their savings at ages 55 and 62.

The introduction of the annuities scheme could see a portion of Singaporean’s CPF Savings set aside to be paid back to them in installments.

Expressions of discontent have spilled over into the mainstream media and are particularly apparent online. Many are concerned that the scheme will be made compulsory across the board.

The annuities scheme comes on top of another widely criticised proposal to raise the age at which the second draw down can be made to 65.

Despite the failed protest, the discontent on the ground is not going unnoticed by Members of Parliament.

It is TOC’s understanding that Mdm Ho Geok Choo of West Coast GRC intends to raise concerns about the proposed compulsory annuities scheme in Parliament when it next sits.

When interviewed, she said: “It is important for the government to allay concerns from the ground before finalising the details of the scheme. People want to know that their concerns are understood before any decisions are made.”

The Minister of Manpower Dr Ng En Hen will address Parliament on 17th September providing more details on the annuities scheme.

"Finding a new way to engage the government"
By redbean

Black September or Brown September, it was over without raising any eyebrow. There was no protest in the form that is recognisable. Nonetheless, it is talking back on something that the people, or some of the people, are disgruntled about.

It is not about toppling the government or anti-establishment. But did it have any impact, or was it a non event, meaningless, not noticeable and forgettable?

Then there is the online petition. Also a rather non-event as it caters only to a small group of netizens.

What else can the Singaporeans do other than writing to the media, in the net or writing to Reach, only to get an explanation that this is all done for his own good?

Maybe this Black September thing, and the online petition, are the best way to say no, to say they disagree, not so much as a protest, and not threatening anyone or peace on the street.

And maybe the govt too think this is a good way for the people to register their views without having to lay on them with the full weight of the law.

It is a civilised way by a civilised people to make their point, in a polite way, as the issues are not life threatening or deserving of a violent protest.

If these two ways are enough to make the government listen and tweak whatever they are doing, we may see more in the future, of Singaporeans in black, heads down, mourning over a policy or decision that they don't agree.

It is good for the people and good for the govt. The people saying it quietly, respectfully, not upsetting anyone and the govt listening quietly and nodding its head. And no opportunity for press sensationalisation.
http://mysingaporenews.blogspot.com/

Not a "Great Success" but reasonable
SammyBoy forum
Posted by Goldenperiod (excerpts)

Ok. I want to write my opinion about the Black September protest - or shopping trip - at Centrepoint.
Great Success? By no means! Sorry to dampen your spirits but that's the truth. My thoughts:
Firstly, it is surprising and heartening to me that Sammyboy forummers would actually turn up. At least some did. I applaud those who took the time to go down to Centrepoint.
Secondly: there were no gatherings of big groups of people dressed in black. This is intentional, of course. However, at the same time, it makes it hard to gauge exactly how many people were there dressed in black, which is itself a common colour.
Thirdly: Black is too ambiguous a colour for such a protest - unless the protest is in one specific, particular place, with hundreds or even just tens of people which would allow us to see and gauge its presence and success.
Fourthly: On my way to centrepoint, I took the train and noticed that there were quite a few people wearing black. A thought came to my mind: Am I seeing what I want to see? Or are there really more "black" people today? The point is, when we are looking for something specific, something as common as a colour shirt, we will tend to see more of it. It's all in the head.
Fifthly: One of the reporters there was from Reuters - that slim lady in jeans, very short hair, not bad looking. She hung at Mac's most of the time, keeping close to Chee Siok Chin's group. She looked disappointed. Later, at about 5-plus, she was at the entrance of Centrepoint. I overheard her asking a group of young people, which included Abdul Salim from the WP (I recognise his face), whether they were planning anything further. Again, she looked kind of disappointed.
The reason why this protest is not a "great success" is that this was an unusual protest. It's unlike the Pink Run, or the Hong Lim park one, or the pink picnic...
Now, although I disagree that it was a success, I do agree with some forummers who say it is a start. A start to what? I don't know.
Perhaps it's a start .. to dispel the fear that has been indoctrinated into all of us these past 42 years.
Compiled by Littlespeck.